Chapter 6
Corlys Velaryon's men moved through the keep with Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk leading the charge.
They pointed out the midwives who had forced their way into Prince Lucerys' chambers with Mellos and kept Princess Rhaenyra's chosen midwives out. The five women were grabbed, their protests ignored as they were taken to the Black Cells.
Daemon and Corlys cornered Orwyle in the maester's quarters and questioned him sharply about his part in what happened to Lucerys.
Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Helaena were still in the younger princess' chambers, discussing what would happen when Gerardys deemed Lucerys well enough to return to Dragonstone as the twins slept beside Lucerys on the bed.
Plans were made and answers were given, then Prince Aemond was found by Ser Criston and his mother.
He had been in Prince Lucerys' chambers, kneeling beside the bed and clutching the bloodied sheets. Those who had been sent to pack Prince Lucerys' belongings heard the yelling, but the words could not be made out behind the heavy door. Then the prince was pushed out of the room by Ser Criston and his arms gripped by the Queen,
"They are going to take your children, Aemond!" The Alpha prince snarled and shoved her hands away,
"Oh, now they are my children? Why the change of heart, mother? After all, it was you who continually pointed out the rumors spreading about my husband! You, who kept reminding me of them! So, why are they now mine? Or because you feel that your supposed grip on Driftmark is slipping?" The Queen tried to speak but the prince growled as he continued,
"But they are my daughters! And I am the fool who listened to you! If Rhaenyra demands the twins be taken to Dragonstone with Lucerys, I will not fight her!"
"Aemond-"
"That way, they will not be able to hear the poison you and your father will no doubt try to drip in their ears! And away from me, who apparently is too foolish to protect them from their own grandmother!"
The Queen flinched at her son's words as Cole took note of the servants who were standing against the wall as they watched the exchange. He stepped toward the mother and son to point out their audience.
Alicent glanced over and quickly schooled her features as she grabbed Aemond's hand,
"We need to speak with the King," Aemond scoffed and ripped his hand from hers as he began walking in the opposite direction.
Cole managed to grab the prince's arm and pulled him back toward the Queen who only looked at her son in disappointment before heading toward the king's solar, the kingsguard dragging her son reluctantly behind him.
After they disappeared behind the king's doors, Ser Harrold was sent to collect Princess Rhaenyra and her entourage.
Inside, King Viserys slouched back in the chair closest to the fireplace with Otto and Alicent standing at each of his shoulders.
Criston Cole stood at a midway point between the queen and Prince Aemond who had positioned himself at the window. His remaining eye scanned the horizon while his mother, father, and grandfather all stood in his blind spot.
When the doors opened a second time, it was Ser Harrold leading in Princess Rhaenyra, Daemon, Rhaenys, Corlys, Maester Gerardys, three of the Velaryon soldiers, and Ser Arryk. But Alicent stared at the person standing between Daemon and Rhaenyra.
Helaena stared at her mother with a blank expression as her fingers rested against the fabric of Rhaenyra's sleeve. The Queen held out her hand and beckoned Helaena over to stand between her and The Hand. The princess only stepped closer to her sister.
The King, in his weakened, hunched-over, barely-conscious glory wheezed as began to speak,
"You have, arrested, the midwives who assisted Lucerys, in his labors,"
"I did," Rhaenyra said and Daemon darkly spoke,
"Assist is not the word I would use. Seeing as those cunts forced their way into my son's rooms,"
The Hand tilted his head and asked, "Is that what Prince Lucerys told you?"
"No-"
"Then how do you know what happened?"
"Daemon is repeating what Princess Helaena and the midwives who were supposed to be with my grandson have told us," Rhaenys said, "The women Rhaenyra sent were kept out of Lucerys' room by Mellos, and the women who were hand-picked by the Queen,"
"I'm sure the Queen wanted to only ensure the safety of her goodson and grandchildren,"
"Then why were none of the concerns she had about the women chosen by Princess Rhaenyra addressed before the birth? Why had no ravens been exchanged? Why was Rhaenyra not asked to return so that she and the Queen may speak?" Corlys asked, his voice dark and dangerous as he looked between the King, Queen, and Hand,
"Not only were they not wanted by my son, they disrespected their station by allowing Mellos to force Lucerys out of his room, they proved incompetent when they did not check for the afterbirth. If they had, my second granddaughter would not have been born in a public area," Viserys tried to speak up, but he was cut off by Gerardys,
"With the stress of the unknown midwives, and no doubt the fear when he realized that Mellos intended to put him under the blade, the prince's health would have the risk of being compromised. Now, with the decision of the Grand Maester and those women, it is almost a guarantee that he will have trouble with his health-"
"What do you mean?" Everyone looked at Aemond who had torn his gaze away from the window to Maester Gerardys,
"Prince Lucerys was forced to give birth in the hall, the dirty hall, while his daughter was wrapped in a used cloak," The maester said, his gaze on the queen to convey how dire the consequences of her request were, "Both the prince and Princess Helaena were then told that Her Grace was waiting for them, and wondering what was taking so long for the children to be brought before her,"
Gerardys shook his head in visible disgust as he continued,
"If the prince was allowed the proper rest and recovery, it would be a different story. For both him and his child,"
The room went quiet as the Greens absorbed what the maester said.
Then Otto asked,
"So, Prince Lucerys, and his children, should remain in King's Landing for the sake of their health?" Gerardys was quick to dispute the Hand's words,
"Quiet the contrary. I believe the three of them staying here will be detrimental to their health. Once Prince Lucerys is able to, I would suggest he and his daughters return to Dragonstone,"
Alicent shook her head and tried to speak up, but she was cut off by Helaena,
"Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and myself will follow,"
The Queen sucked in a harsh breath as she quickly walked toward her daughter, reaching to grasp Helaena by the arms,
"My dearest love, please-"
The moment Alicent's fingers brushed against her daughter's arms, Helaena slapped them away as she stepped closer to Rhaenyra. She easily accepted her sister's hand as Daemon stepped between the Queen and the princesses,
"Ser Criston, find Aegon and bring him here," Otto hissed and the knight quickly bowed, but his path was blocked by the three Velaryon soldiers who stood at the door,
"I fail to see what Prince Aegon has to do with any of this," Corlys said.
He wanted to finish this farce as quickly as possible and return Lucerys to Dragonstone with his daughters. The Sea Snake was prepared to have his fleet form a blockade around Blackwater Bay and cut off trade to King's Landing if Lucerys was refused passage from the city with his children,
"Prince Aegon is the sire of Princess Helaena's children, her mate, and her husband!" The Hand said, "He will have a say in whether or not his mate and wife will be permitted to leave with his children,"
"It's alright, My Lord," The princess said to the Sea Snake, "I told Lucerys I would go with him. I intend to keep that promise, no matter what my husband says,"
Corlys nodded and gestured for his men to move while mentally adding Helaena and her children being unable to leave as a reason to form a blockade in the bay.
Cole quickly left the room in search of the prince while Viserys pushed himself up out of the chair he had been sitting in and he approached his oldest child,
"Mellos, and the midwives, you can have them. Do what you wish with them. But to take, Lucerys, Helaena, and their children, destroy the families they have here in King's Landing-"
"There are no families here, Viserys," Rhaenys spoke up, "You have one prince who drinks half the city dry as he whores his way through the Street of Silk and neglects his children and wife. And that one," She snarled while turning to face Aemond,
"What has Aemond done but care for Lucerys?" The King asked in a rasping voice, "I have seen his devotion with my own eyes-"
"The truth has been hidden from you, Your Grace,"
Aemond had stepped further into the room, but he kept his gaze on the floor,
"Shortly after Lucerys was confirmed to be carrying, my children, The Queen began to tell me of rumors surrounding my husband. That he had found a lover and was carrying that Alpha's child. I did not believe them, not at the beginning. Not until after Princess Rhaenyra and her family returned to Dragonstone," The One-eyed Prince shifted under the heavy stares before continuing, "The rumors gained traction and had spread further through the Keep. I had many people coming to me, to offer sympathies for the disloyalty I was shown and had to suffer through. Then when The Hand and Ser Criston joined my mother's voice among the many, I began to believe them. Without demanding proof, or asking Lucerys about the rumors spread against him,"
The Queen's frightened gaze switched between her son, her daughter, and Rhaenyra.
The Hand's eyes were fixated on the wall.
Corlys ground his jaw in anger as his gaze burned into the young Alpha standing before him.
Rhaenys, at first glance, appeared to be indifferent. But her eyes held a certain fire that threatened to burn everything in sight.
Helaena had turned away from her brother in disgust as she whispered,
"Poisoned bond, poisoned love,"
Daemon openly glared at his nephew while his hand clenched around Dark Sister.
Rhaenrya's hand was clasped around Daemon's arm, either to hold her mate or herself back from attacking the prince.
Viserys stared at his son, his wheezing breath rising in volume as he desperately tried to diffuse the situation,
"Falling victim to these rumors, is unfortunate. But not unforgive-"
"I neglected him and my unborn children, Your Grace. I took pieces of his nest that belonged to myself and Helaena," The prince said, finally lifting his gaze to meet the King's, "I will not ask for forgiveness because I do not deserve it,"
Someone began to slowly clap,
"Well done, nephew," Daemon said, "You have seen undeniable proof that Lucerys did not betray you and now you believe him. At what cost? From what we have been told and have seen, Lucerys could have lost both his children and his life!"
Rhaenyra tightened her grip on Daemon's arm, but she desperately wanted to let go.
Not yet.
She could not let go yet.
Rhaenys was having the same dilemma. She may have not been as close to Laenor's claimed sons as Corlys, but she was still enraged. However, her anger paled in comparison to her husband's.
The Sea Snake was seconds away from drawing his sword and running Aemond through. The only thing that stopped him was a well-pointed stare from his wife. But even that looked like it would not be enough to save the prince.
The door opened and Ser Criston appeared with a sober, but sick-looking Aegon.
He looked around the room, grimacing at the burning anger that was clogging the air,
"Uh, why am I here?"
Otto gripped the back of the King's chair as he spoke through gritted teeth,
"Princess Rhaenyra has decided, that not only will she attempt to take Aemond's mate and children to Dragonstone, but she will take yours as well,"
"It was not Rhaenyra's decision," Helaena snapped, "It is my choice. My sister was gracious enough to allow me to return with them,"
"It is not her choice!" Exclaimed the Queen as crimson dripped around her nails, "And Aegon is the sire of Jaehaerys and Jaehaera! He is your husband and mate! He is the one with the final say!" Everyone stared at Alicent as her father ran a hand down his face.
Aegon twisted his face as he looked to his sister-wife and said,
"You're right about two of those, mother," The attention moved from the Queen to Aegon as the King asked,
"What?"
"I'm her husband and her children's sire. But, I am not her mate,"
You could hear a quill drop as the prince shrugged,
"The bite never took. It never scarred,"
With everyone's attention on Aegon, no one saw the grateful look Helaena shot her brother,
"No. No that's not- You never tried! You never-" Alicent was seconds away from tearing her own hair out, "That cannot be true it cannot-"
"We only said what grandsire told us to say," Helaena whispered as everyone, but Aegon, looked at Otto Hightower who jerked at the accusation.
It was like Driftmark again.
A lie told and someone being thrown under the wheelhouse.
Aegon looked at Helaena and gave her a slight nod and she returned it. The only one who saw their exchange was Corlys, and he said nothing,
"Is this true, Otto? Did you tell my children to lie? To me? To their father? To their King?" The Hand tried to deny it and the Sea Snake called out,
"And now he calls his granddaughter a liar,"
"Gods be good! Otto! Alicent! Is there anything else that has been kept from me? About my children? About my grandchildren?"
The Queen flinched as Otto, knowing he was tangled in this lie with no way out, looked down in false remorse,
"I did not want to trouble Your Grace-"
"They are my children, whom I married, at your suggestion!" The King snarled, "I had a right to know! I had every gods damned right-" Viserys cut off as his cane went skidding across the floor.
Alicent tried getting him to sit, but he harshly waved her off as he faced Rhaenyra.
He saw Helaena gripping her sister's arm as Rhaenys and Daemon positioned themselves in a way that blocked the young princess from her mother and grandfather,
"I suspect, all of you, have something to say about this as well?" The Sea Snake was the one to speak,
"I have one thing to say, Your Grace: Annulment. For both Lucerys and Helaena. Free them from the chains that keep them in King's Landing and let them return to Dragonstone with Daemon and Rhaenyra,"
Alicent vehemently shook her head, "No! I will not allow this! It will make my grandchildren no more than bastards!"
"And you have told me, on more than one occasion that Jaehaerys and Jaehaera would be better off as bastards than my children,"
"Aegon that is not-"
"ENOUGH!" Viserys was breathing heavily and he all but toppled back into his seat.
He rested his scarred head on the palm of his remaining hand and took a moment to collect himself before looking up,
"Aegon, and Helaena. You are married, but not bonded. I want you to answer me honestly, if an annulment was offered-"
"Viserys no-"
"If an annulment was offered!" He glared at Alicent, silencing her, "Would it be something you both want, and agree to?" Helaena nodded as Aegon said,
"I've always liked her better when she was just my sister. So yes,"
Viserys once again rested his head in the palm of his hand, a heavy sigh escaping him as he gave a tired nod.
Alicent collapsed to her knees in front of her husband and gripped the edges of his robes,
"My husband! My mate! My King! I beg of you! Do not do this!" He ignored her,
"Ser Harrold, bring me the High Septon,"
Alicent wailed as Otto darted in front of the Commander,
"Your Grace, I must-"
"You will stop for no one, Ser Harrold! That is an order!"
Ser Harrold nodded as he shouldered past the Hand and glowered at a lost-looking Ser Criston. When he approached the door, Lord Corlys' men stepped aside without prompting and allowed him through.
When the door was shut, Viserys pulled his robes out of Alicent's hands and stood back up to face his second son,
"Aemond. You will tell me the truth. Did you mark Lucerys?" The young Alpha hesitated to answer, his eye briefly flicking to his oldest sister before he nodded, "And it took? It did not heal? It scarred?" Once again, Aemond glanced at Rhaenyra before quietly answering,
"It scarred, Your Grace,"
Rhaenyra shook her head as Daemon barred his teeth at his nephew, their anger twining together at the answer. But Rhaenys saw where this line of questioning was heading and she was quick to say,
"Viserys. You cannot be considering allowing that boy to continue his marriage with Lucerys!"
"The mark scarred, cousin. There is hope-"
"Hope? What hope will my grandson have, cousin, if he continues to be chained to the likes of him?"
"I will not leave my son with Aemond. I refuse, to leave my son with the person who neglected and allowed him to be tortured over vile rumors!" Rhaenyra and Rhaenys burned harshly against the King, who was either brave or foolish to say,
"Lucerys and Helaena will go to Dragonstone with their children. The marriage, of Aegon and Helaena will be annulled. But not the marriage, of Lucerys and Aemond. And furthermore," He coughed wetly into his sleeve, "My condition, in allowing them to leave is this: Once, at the beginning of each month, Aegon and Aemond will fly to Dragonstone. They will continue, to form bonds with their children, and in Aemond's case, also rebuild his bond with Lucerys,"
Daemon snarled as Rhaenrya shook her head, "Dragonstone is my home, my seat. I am the Princess of Dragonstone and I will not allow that One-eyed monster anywhere near my son or his children!"
Viserys stared tiredly at his daughter and mustered up the strength to say,
"And I am the King of the Seven Kingdoms. And if I find that either of my sons is kept from their children, I will have every knight, guard, and soldier in King's Landing, with the Lannister and Redwyne fleet, lay siege to Dragonstone until my sons' children are returned to them,"
"You would risk war over this, Your Grace?" Corlys asked, the grip on his sword tightening as Viserys turned his gaze on the Sea Snake,
"You would be the one, risking war, Corlys. You and Rhaenyra, for keeping children away from their fathers," He weakly once more and straightened his back the best he could, "This, is an order, a command, a damned, decree, from your cousin, brother, father, and King!"
The room was filled with the sounds of his panting breaths and Alicent's quiet weeping,
"How far you have fallen, Viserys," Daemon muttered as Helaena began whispering,
"Broken bonds, poisoned bonds, new bonds, new love," Her murmurs were soon drowned out by a quick knocking at the door before they flew open.
Elinda entered, red faced and out of breath as she quickly addressed Rhaenyra,
"Princess! Prince Lucerys! He's awake!"